In a world that is increasingly polarized, we invite you to break out of the echo chamber to hear what’s really going on. Each Tuesday, Rivky Stern, senior podcast producer for Unpacked, will unpack the most interesting, controversial news stories from Israel and the Jewish world.
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This Week Unpacked introduces another podcast from Unpacked: Unpacking Israeli History. Season 4 just launched, and we're running the first episode here, entitled Ma'alot: 30 Seconds That Devastated A Nation.
It was supposed to be a fun field trip. A little celebration in honor of Israel’s 26th birthday. Over a hundred religious high school students, exploring northern Israel and sleeping under the stars. But the three Palestinian terrorists who sneaked in from Lebanon had other plans. This is the story of the Ma’alot massacre. It’s a story of horror and blood. But it’s also a story of hope and resistance. A reminder that every hour of our lives matters.
Introducing Unpacking Israeli History
Thursday, April 28, 2022 • Duration 35:46
This Week Unpacked introduces another podcast from Unpacked: Unpacking Israeli History. Season 3 just launched, and we're running the first episode here, entitled Hebron: When Tensions Erupt.
In the summer of 1929, Jews and Arabs alike found themselves caught in an unbearably bloody battle. The aftermath of a deadly riot showed the Jews of British Mandatory Palestine that the British couldn’t protect them, leading them to unite under the banner of Zionism. In this episode, Noam unpacks the 1929 Hebron Riots and considers why it may be considered “Year Zero” of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Why is Israel banning Palestinian NGOs?
Season 1 · Episode 21
Wednesday, November 10, 2021 • Duration 12:00
Benny Gantz, Israel’s Defense Minister, recently declared that the country was designating six Palestinian NGOs (or “nongovernmental organizations”) as terror groups. Why? Are these NGOs really connected to terrorist organizations? And what do Israelis think about these designations? ~~~~
Learn more about Unpacked: https://jewishunpacked.com/about/
Visit Unpacked on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unpacked
See more about Entebbe: https://jewishunpacked.com/operation-thunderbolt-the-raid-on-entebbe/
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Sources
https://www.jns.org/gantz-names-six-palestinian-ngos-as-terror-groups-us-asks-israel-to-clarify/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawson%27s_Field_hijackings
https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/on-this-day-israeli-minister-rehavam-zeevi-assassinated-by-terrorists-20-years-ago-682206
https://www.idf.il/en/articles/palestinian-terror/today-we-remember-the-fogel-family-massacre/
https://twitter.com/NGOmonitor/status/1451499358092939265
https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-rushing-to-defend-terrorism-linked-ngos-20211029-mn47va7rczf3pdtiw2uissy6ty-story.html
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/israel-must-prove-blacklisted-ngos-funded-terrorism-editorial-682904
https://www.jns.org/israeli-security-services-uncover-finance-network-linking-european-ngos-to-palestinian-terror-group/
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-great-damage-labor-party-head-condemns-classing-palestinian-ngos-as-terror-groups-1.10324241
https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/editorial/.premium-a-stain-upon-israel-1.10318621
https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/palestinian-ngos-human-rights-workers-or-agents-of-terror-683414
https://www.adalah.org/en/content/view/10456
https://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/19058.html
https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/palestinian-ngos-human-rights-workers-or-agents-of-terror-683414
~~~~
Unpacked is a division of OpenDor Media
Chaos In Lebanon
Season 1 · Episode 20
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 • Duration 12:28
There are now 100,000 trained and ready fighters in Hezbollah, according to its leader, Hassan Nasrallah. This week, we explore: what is Hezbollah? What is its history, and its relationship with Israel? And how worried should we be?
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Learn more about Unpacked: https://jewishunpacked.com/about/
Visit Unpacked on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unpacked
See more about the Lebanon War: https://jewishunpacked.com/sabra-and-shatila-what-happened-and-why-it-matters/
~~~~
Sources
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/03/Iranian-View-of-Israel/387085/
https://www.adl.org/education/resources/backgrounders/the-amia-daia-bombing-terror-in-argentina https://www.adl.org/resources/glossary-terms/hezbollah https://www.ajc.org/news/ajc-praises-germanys-ban-of-all-hezbollah-activities https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Country-Reports-on-Terrorism-2019-2.pdf https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/israel/2019-03-08/will-hezbollahs-rise-be-its-downfall https://unpacked.education/israel-and-iran-from-allies-to-archenemies/ https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/beirut-barracks-blown-up https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-energy-envoy-to-visit-lebanon-will-discuss-maritime-border-talks-with-israel/ https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-mediator-hochstein-says-lebanon-israel-maritime-talks-need-be-quick-al-hadath-2021-10-21/ https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/lebanon-touts-new-opportunity-for-maritime-border-talks-with-israel-682682 https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-a-change-hezbollahs-boast-of-100000-fighters-is-not-aimed-at-israel/ https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.HIGHLIGHT-has-hezbollah-become-too-big-to-fail-1.10316189 ~~~~
Unpacked is a division of OpenDor Media
Shmita, Unpacked
Season 1 · Episode 19
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 • Duration 12:35
This year in Israel is a sabbatical year, also known as a shmita year. We’ll explain what that is, and what the practical implications are for Jews all over the world. ~~~~
Learn more about Unpacked: https://jewishunpacked.com/about/
Visit Unpacked on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unpacked
~~~~
Sources
https://drive.google.com/file/d/19MiVPVA19C6GJB9KufhQiM_1JV7amB_l/view
https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-israelis-who-buy-farmland-to-let-it-lie-fallow/ https://buy.otzar-haretz.co.il/english/ https://www.jpost.com/opinion/rabbinic-leadership-must-harmonize-shmita-halacha-with-good-of-society-676596 https://shmitaproject.org/about-project/ ~~~~
Unpacked is a division of OpenDor Media
Israel’s Choice: Never Leave A Soldier Behind
Season 1 · Episode 18
Wednesday, October 20, 2021 • Duration 14:24
Ron Arad, an Israeli Air Force navigator, has been missing since 1986. Recently, the Mossad carried out an operation to find out any new information about his fate. In this week’s episode, we explore Israel’s philosophy to never give up, and never leave a soldier behind.
~~~~
Learn more about Unpacked: https://jewishunpacked.com/about/
Visit Unpacked on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unpacked
Teaching about this topic? Check out our relevant educator resources here: https://unpacked.education/why-is-israel-still-searching-for-ron-arad/
~~~~
Sources
https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah%2C_Gifts_to_the_Poor.8.10?lang=bi https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Gittin.4.6?lang=he-en&utm_source=etzion.org.il&utm_medium=sefaria_linker https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-israel-must-do-everything-to-bring-soldiers-home-1.10276763 https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report/prisoners-dilemma-137099 https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/the-ron-arad-saga-national-trauma-or-national-obsession-681380 https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-israel-s-obsessive-worship-of-the-dead-1.10272770 https://unpacked.education/video/eli-cohen-the-mossads-master-spy/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=weekly-21-10-12&utm_campaign=ued-reengagement https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-israel-must-do-everything-to-bring-soldiers-home-1.10276763 https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/10/07/wife-of-missing-navigator-ron-arad-defends-operation/
~~~~
Unpacked is a division of OpenDor Media
Are Iraqis Really Calling For Peace With Israel?
Season 1 · Episode 17
Wednesday, October 13, 2021 • Duration 13:42
After hundreds of Iraqi leaders spoke out for normalizing relations with Israel, and potentially joining the Abraham Accords, but then very quickly retracted their call. Rivky tells the whole story, including the history of Jewish Iraq, and asks, what should we make of this story?
~~~~
Learn more about Unpacked: https://jewishunpacked.com/about/
Visit Unpacked on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unpacked
Teaching about this topic? Check out our relevant educator resources here: https://unpacked.education/why-did-iraqis-call-for-peace-with-israel/
~~~~
Sources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/13/opinion/israel-uae.html
https://www.wsj.com/articles/iraq-abraham-accords-israel-sunni-shiite-11632495291
https://www.memri.org/jttm/iran-backed-iraqi-militias-response-normalization-conference-erbil-we-will-attack-israeli
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_population_by_country
https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-expulsion-that-backfired-when-iraq-kicked-out-its-jews/
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/iraq-virtual-jewish-history-tour
https://unpacked.education/video/resolution-181-the-zionist-dream-comes-true/
https://unpacked.education/video/six-day-war-project/
https://unpacked.education/podcast/the-yom-kippur-war-a-national-catastrophe/
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iraqi-ambassador-inappropriately-quoted-by-media-on-israel-and-palestine-595336
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-44466573
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-44466573
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/calls-peace-israel-backfire-after-iraqi-conference-n1280301
https://www.facebook.com/210288219549415/posts/402912500286985/?d=n
https://themedialine.org/top-stories/despite-calls-for-peace-iraq-israel-normalization-still-a-distant-dream/
https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/09/30/iraq-israel-iran-palestine-abraham-accords-middle-east-relations/
https://www.facebook.com/IsraelinIraqi
https://twitter.com/naftalibennett/status/1441807050728742912
~~~~
Unpacked is a division of OpenDor Media
Iron Dome: Is Bipartisan Support For Israel Dead?
Season 1 · Episode 16
Wednesday, October 6, 2021 • Duration 22:16
After the U.S. House of Representatives voted for Iron Dome funding, calls for the death of bipartisan support for Israel were heard from Jewish media all over the country. But...is it true? And, backing up - why does Israel even get foreign aid from the U.S.? Is it different than other types of aid? And what are people saying about it? Rivky breaks down everything you need to know.
~~~~
Learn more about Unpacked: https://jewishunpacked.com/about/
Visit Unpacked on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unpacked
Teaching about this topic? Check out our relevant educator resources here: https://unpacked.education/was-the-temporary-blocking-of-iron-dome-funding-a-turning-point/
~~~~
Sources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz5WI8VZC1A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=j6aZH4egHCg
https://news.yahoo.com/yes-wept-aoc-explains-why-203300617.html
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1hOiNo95QUvneEXbaULj4H?si=UU9DeMMIQYyZfGMTVU63nw&dl_branch=1
https://besacenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/181-web-UPDATED.pdf
https://jewishinsider.com/2021/04/betty-mccollum-legislation-israel-aid/
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjvsmjt7k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04m1TtlfCOk
https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/aid-israel-michael-oren
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/23/opinion/israel-democrat-bowman-jayapal-tlaib.html
https://www.jns.org/opinion/the-baleful-significance-of-the-democrats-iron-dome-fiasco/
https://www.jns.org/survey-finds-nearly-two-thirds-of-jewish-students-feel-unsafe-half-hide-identity/
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1hOiNo95QUvneEXbaULj4H?si=90d32b86200f4330
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3g3N-b2Hb4&t=1089s
https://jewishunpacked.com/does-israel-represent-all-jews-the-great-debate/
https://jewishunpacked.com/the-great-debate-around-german-reparations/
~~~~
Unpacked is a division of OpenDor Media
TWU Presents...German Reparations
Thursday, September 30, 2021 • Duration 28:32
For September, we're doing something different. Presenting, Unpacking Israeli History. Begin and Ben Gurion had some epics battles, but one of the biggest ones happened in 1952, as these two Israeli giants battled about whether to take German reparations after the Holocaust. In this episode, Noam looks all the way back at this crazy story, and leaves us asking, who was right?
~~~~
Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored by Alan Fisher and Barbara Sommer, and Jon and Rachie Teller.
~~~~
Learn more about Unpacked: https://jewishunpacked.com/about/
Visit Unpacked on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unpacked
See the full season of Unpacking Israeli History here: https://jewishunpacked.com/podcast-series/unpacking-israeli-history/
~~~~
Sources
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/06/the-case-for-reparations/361631/
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/19/us/ta-nehisi-coates-reparations.html
https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/67de380e-8b71-412c-8d06-70af9b31da25
https://www.ushmm.org/exhibition/displaced-persons/daily2.htm
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israel-breaks-50-year-record-for-most-rainfall-613693
tastecooking.com/truth-israeli-couscous/
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/144226014.pdf
https://www.npr.org/2019/03/07/700356426/thousands-of-israelis-now-call-berlin-home-and-make-their-cultural-mark
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/labor-and-internment-camps-in-north-africa
https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110255386.100/html
http://auschwitz.org/en/history/punishments-and-executions/
https://blog.nli.org.il/en/reparations-agreement/
https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/28248/1001729.pdf?sequence=1
https://www.aicgs.org/2019/11/the-september-1952-reparations-agreement-between-west-germany-and-israel-the-beginning-of-a-remarkable-friendship/
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/german-holocaust-reparations
Menachem Begin: The Battle for Israel's Soul, by Danny Gordis
Ben-Gurion: Father of Modern Israel, Anita Shapira
~~~~
Unpacked is a division of OpenDor Media
TWU Presents...UN Resolution 3379
Thursday, September 23, 2021 • Duration 29:03
For September, we're doing something different. Presenting, Unpacking Israeli History. On Nov 10, 1975, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 3379, determining that Zionism is "a form of racism and racial discrimination.” That’s quite a loaded description! In this episode, Noam Weissman breaks down what led to this infamous resolution, the UN’s relationship with Israel, and what it means to us, almost 50 years later. ~~~~
Unpacking Israeli History is generously sponsored by Alan Fisher and Barbara Sommer, and Jon and Rachie Teller.
~~~~
Learn more about Unpacked: https://jewishunpacked.com/about/
Visit Unpacked on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unpacked
Teaching about this topic? Check out our relevant educator resources here: https://unpacked.education/video/un-resolution-3379-is-zionism-racism/
~~~~
Sources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlr1ioQIxa4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpC2HdL-95M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv8Hqlubst4&t=44s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7chKW7H6s8M
https://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/761C1063530766A7052566A2005B74D1
https://www.haaretz.com/.premium-nostalgic-for-the-ussr-on-the-kibbutzim-1.5233153
https://www.marxists.org/subject/jewish/caution-zionism.pdf
https://www.jta.org/1952/10/07/archive/bonn-charges-ussr-exports-nazi-anti-semitic-films-to-arabs
Sachar, A History of the Jews in the Modern World
http://proceedings.informingscience.org/InSITE2019/InSITE19p035-070Cohen5666.pdf
https://mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/peace/guide/pages/the%20khartoum%20resolutions.aspx
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/oil-embargo
https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB106419296113226300
https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/642340?ln=en
https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1973/10/23/issue.html
https://content.ecf.org.il/files/M00901_UNGARes3379DebateEnglish.pdf
https://www.jta.org/1975/11/12/archive/kristallnacht-at-the-united-nations-100000-in-rally-to-protest-against-anti-zionist-resolution-mass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuJXdAvPCrU&t=252s
https://unwatch.org/moynihans-moment-the-historic-1975-u-n-speech-in-response-to-zionism-is-racism/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1991/12/17/un-repeals-resolution-linking-zionism-to-racism/70349a7c-ae07-40ea-b37d-ee711e0636eb/
~~~~
Unpacked is a division of OpenDor Media
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